Sunminers are a highly derived, cyborgised clade that during the ComEmp and early post-ComEmp periods specialized in starscooping and star-lifting, acquiring great wealth. They are now largely "old money", although they will still take on projects, especially if those are challenging or aesthetic.

Starscoops

A SunMiner starscoop uses ramscoop technology to extract material from the outer atmosphere of a star; a rotating field lifts hot material into the extraction.collection facility, where the metals and other elements are separated out centrifugally. Most of the hydrogen and helium is discarded, taking excess heat away from the vessel with it (although some of the hydrogen and helium may also be exported).

Cooled Orbital Rings

Larger scale extraction projects are carried out with cooled orbital rings; highly eccentric rings carry material and heat away from the star, allowing the rapid extraction of large quantities of matter.